What are floaters?
You may sometimes see small specks or clouds moving in your field of vision. They are called floaters. You can often
see them when looking at a plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky.
Floaters are tiny opacities in the vitreous inside the eye. They can have different
shapes: little dots, circles, lines, clouds or cobwebs.
What causes floaters?
When people reach middle age, the vitreous gel may start to shrink, forming
clumps or strands inside the eye. The vitreous gel pulls away from the back wall of
the eye, causing a posterior vitreous detachment. It is a common cause of
floaters.
What can be done about floaters?
Floaters can get in the way of clear vision, which may be quite annoying, especially when they are new. You can try
moving your eyes, looking up and then down to move the floaters out of the way.
While some floaters may remain in your vision, many of them will fade over time and become less bothersome. Even
if you have had some floaters for years, you should have an eye examination immediately if you notice new ones.
What causes flashing lights?
When the vitreous gel rubs or pulls on the retina, you may see what looks like flashing lights or lightning streaks. You
may have experienced this same sensation if you have ever been hit in the eye and seen “stars.”
The flashes of light can appear off and on for several weeks or months. As we grow older, it is more common to
experience flashes. If you notice the sudden appearance of light flashes, you should arrange for an eye examination
immediately.
Are floaters or flashes ever serious?
The retina can tear if the shrinking vitreous gel pulls away from the wall of the eye and pulls with it a piece of the
retina causing a retinal tear. This sometimes causes a small amount of bleeding in the eye that may appear as new
floaters. A retinal tear is always a serious problem, since it can lead to a retinal detachment. The symptoms of a
retinal tear or detachment are:
New floaters appear suddenly;
Sudden flashes of light;
Sudden loss of side vision.
Although a retinal tear or detachment is rare, you should see Dr. Farah as
soon as possible if you notice these symptoms.